What is an academic accommodation?
Academic accommodations are a change in the allocation of college resources, or in instruction or evaluation methods designed to meet the specific needs of a student with a disability. They are provided to ensure that students with a disability are able to access the programs and services provided at the college and are able to demonstrate their knowledge fully.
How is a student’s eligibility for academic accommodations determined?
Students are required to provide the accessibility coordinator with appropriate medical documentation that outlines both the diagnosis and functional impacts of their disability.
In exceptional circumstances, accommodations can be provided on a trial basis in cases where there is sufficient evidence of a disability and where documentation is being sought.
Who is responsible for determining a student’s eligibility for accommodations at the college?
The accessibility coordinator at your campus is responsible for reviewing disability documentation and for recommending reasonable accommodations for students with a disability. Instructors are provided with a letter of accommodation that outlines these recommendations.
Implementation of academic accommodations is a collaborative process. If instructors have concerns about any of the recommended accommodations, please discuss these concerns with the accessibility coordinator.
What are students’ responsibilities in accessing academic accommodations?
Students must self-disclose that they have a disability to the accessibility coordinator and provide appropriate disability documentation if they wish to seek academic accommodations or services. Instructors will receive a copy of the student's letter of accommodation at the beginning of each course. They also need to make requests for academic accommodations, such as exam accommodations, in a timely manner.
As an instructor, what do I need to do if one of my students gives me an academic accommodation form?
Review the letter carefully. This letter will let you know what academic accommodations this student qualifies for based on the functional impacts of their documented disability and will outline what you need to do to assist in implementing these accommodations.
Contact the accessibility coordinator at your campus if you have any questions or concerns.
Do students who receive academic accommodations need to meet all the essential learning outcomes for their course or program?
Yes. Academic accommodations should not interfere with the essential learning outcomes of a course or program.
If an instructor feels that a particular recommended academic accommodation will not be appropriate for their course or program on this basis, please contact the accessibility coordinator to discuss your concerns as early in the term as possible.
What do I do if a student informs me that they have a disability and requests disability accommodations?
Ask if the student is registered with Accessibility Services.
If they are, request that they provide you with a current copy of their letter of accommodation. If they are not, then it is recommended that they schedule an appointment with the accessibility coordinator to discuss their situation.
What do I do if a student with a disability requests an accommodation for their disability that is not listed on their letter of accommodation?
Let the student know that they will need to discuss their request with the accessibility coordinator, who will be able to review their disability documentation to determine if the requested accommodation is appropriate.